Alarm calls to Decatur Fire Department break record in 2023
The Decatur City Council will meet for the first time in 2024 on Tuesday, January 16. The 13 agenda items to be discussed include adoption of the council’s 2023-2025 strategic goals, a TIF redevelopment agreement with County Line Plaza, rezoning of property for installation of a solar array producing 5 MW of energy, launching a project to accurately locate lead service lines, possible approval of two electronic billboards, and a discussion on the need and possible vote for new emergency warning sirens. While not on the agenda, the mid-January city council meeting also provides the public with a summary of the past year through each department’s monthly reports. These reports are helpful to the council and city residents because the data provides a snapshot of how the city is doing using data that is comparable among years.
ALARM CALLS TO FIRE DEPARTMENT EXCEED 14,000 IN 2023
While the city of Decatur’s population continues to fall, the number of alarm calls to the Decatur Fire Department has increased substantially. The fire department responded to 14,073 alarms in 2023 compared to 13,108 in 2022 (7.4% increase and new record). By comparison, the fire department responded to 10,968 alarms in 2019 (the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), an increase of 28% in 4 years. Simultaneously, the population of Decatur has decreased from 70,746 in 2019 to 69,097 in 2022 (-2%, the latest estimate available).
As stated in the December 2023 report, “In the future, the City and the fire department will need to decide what alarms the department will continue to respond. This is not a unique problem to Decatur, but 911 has become a system for non-emergency needs as well as emergency needs. This call volume causes excessive wear and tear on the equipment as well as the firefighters. The answer to these issues will likely involve more input than the City and department are able to address.”
POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND SHOOTINGS ALL FALL IN 2023
The Decatur Police Department responded to slightly fewer calls for service in 2023 (n=50,280) compared to 2022 (n=51,024, -1%). In 2019, there were 54,480 calls for service, down 8% compared to 2023. Traffic accidents have also fallen with 2,849 accidents in 2019, 2,531 in 2022, and 2,367 in 2023, a 17% reduction in 4 years. NIBRS Offense Counts (which include crimes such as assault, larceny, vandalism, and weapon and drug violations) have fluctuated in recent years. In 2023, there were 5,061 total offense counts, in 2022, there were 4,748, and in 2021 (the first year NIBRS Offense Counts were reported) there were 5,514. Shootings fell 22% between 2022 when there were 136 and 2023 when there were 106. The 106 shootings last year are still higher than the number of shootings in 2019 when there were 83 (28% difference).
THE NUMBER OF DEMOLITIONS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN 2023
Decatur had another busy year reducing blight. The number of demolitions, properties that were boarded up, and properties declared unfit for human habitation all rose last year, and the totals are substantially greater than 2019. The number of demolitions was 108 in 2023, 64 in 2022, and 60 in 2019, an 80% increase over a 4-year period. The number of properties that needed to be boarded up also grew. The number of properties that were boarded up was 384 in 2023, 344 in 2022, and 155 in 2019, a 148% increase over a 4-year period. The number of properties declared unfit for human habitation was 593 in 2023, 501 in 2022, and 268 in 2019, a 121% increase over a 4-year period.
As the city accelerates its efforts to remove delipidated properties from neighborhoods, the city may see decreased criminal activity. For example, the city received a $1.25 million grant in 2020 to fund demolitions, cleanups, and lot acquisitions in the Johns Hill Neighborhood. The neighborhood has seen a reduction in crime since the neighborhood was improved (36% reduction in the count of offenses in July-June 2022-2023 vs. July-June 2018-2019).
PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The next city council meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/advance-request-to-speak-at-council-meeting/.
CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council/.
AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.